Lexus teased this all-new concept LF-NX crossover ahead of its Frankfurt Auto Show debut on Sept. 10. The luxury division of Toyota has long been rumored to be working on a compact crossover.

Lexus teased this all-new concept LF-NX crossover ahead of its Frankfurt Auto Show debut on Sept. 10. The luxury division of Toyota has long been rumored to be working on a compact crossover. (Lexus)

David Undercoffler

Lexus has long been rumored to be developing a small crossover, and Toyota’s luxury arm has revealed a first look at what it has in store.

The automaker on Wednesday previewed the LF-NX, a compact crossover concept it will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show on Sept. 10.

The concept hints at a vehicle that Lexus hopes to use to get a slice of a fast-growing segment that includes the BMW X1, the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi’s Q3, and even the Infiniti Q30 concept that will also debut in Frankfurt.

Though the LF-NX concept wears uber-angular sheet metal and an extreme take on the spindle grille Lexus has been fitting to its lineup recently, expect a much more tame look when the production model rolls out in the future.

Lexus didn’t divulge any details on just what exactly will move this vehicle, saying only that the concept has a new hybrid drive train “tuned for SUV performance.”

This Lexus joins other Frankfurt world debuts such as the aforementioned Mercedes and Infiniti vehicles, as well as a Jaguar concept crossover, the Volvo Concept Coupe, and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid super car. The Frankfurt Auto Show press days will be Sept. 10 and 11.